Last week Richmond were 20 points up against Geelong late in the 2nd qtr. The Cats did their regular thing and switched into an extra gear and piled on some quick goals to lead by 2 at half time. Cotchin was hobbling and Maric did his ankle, but we were trading blows early in the 3rd qtr when Dusty marked in the goal square and the umpires penalised Newman for retaliating to a Selwood attack off the ball. 50 metres and a 12 point turn around was followed by Vickery being knocked out in the centre bounce. Unsurprisingly they won that bounce and goaled. Another bounce, with no Richmond ruck on the field and another goal to Geelong.
The game was lost and our team has since been lambasted by the media. We are whingers apparently, Dimma and the boys are soft and should start claiming the responsibility for their defeats rather than looking for excuses.
I disagree.
Yes, there is a problem with a culture that blames umpires, fate or whatever for defeat. The team needs to collectively examine each loss and the focus of that examination has to be the things that we can change, which are our own actions. But it's also important to understand where we are in our development, to not lower our heads, to have some confidence in our abilities.
Tonight Geelong played Essendon and it was a very revealing game. It shadowed in an uncanny way our match against the Cats. The undefeated Bombers were 21 points up against Geelong late in the 2nd qtr just as we had been 20 pts up. The Cats then layed on a late qtr clinic to grab a lead at half time.
What was different after that? Well the only key player to be injured was Taylor Hunt earlier in the game. The Bombers wern't deprived of their entire ruck division within a few minutes of having a 12 point turn around delivered by the umpires. Yet they still managed to lose by a comparable margin.
What does this mean?
It means that we haven't been playing as badly as most people think. We all need to take a chill pill. If Port Adelaide beat us they will have to play exceptionally well. And Mark MacClure is a flog.
The latter conclusion has always been correct, of course, but its correctness has been reinforced by his recent impersonation of a demented blue walrus,
The game was lost and our team has since been lambasted by the media. We are whingers apparently, Dimma and the boys are soft and should start claiming the responsibility for their defeats rather than looking for excuses.
I disagree.
Yes, there is a problem with a culture that blames umpires, fate or whatever for defeat. The team needs to collectively examine each loss and the focus of that examination has to be the things that we can change, which are our own actions. But it's also important to understand where we are in our development, to not lower our heads, to have some confidence in our abilities.
Tonight Geelong played Essendon and it was a very revealing game. It shadowed in an uncanny way our match against the Cats. The undefeated Bombers were 21 points up against Geelong late in the 2nd qtr just as we had been 20 pts up. The Cats then layed on a late qtr clinic to grab a lead at half time.
What was different after that? Well the only key player to be injured was Taylor Hunt earlier in the game. The Bombers wern't deprived of their entire ruck division within a few minutes of having a 12 point turn around delivered by the umpires. Yet they still managed to lose by a comparable margin.
What does this mean?
It means that we haven't been playing as badly as most people think. We all need to take a chill pill. If Port Adelaide beat us they will have to play exceptionally well. And Mark MacClure is a flog.
The latter conclusion has always been correct, of course, but its correctness has been reinforced by his recent impersonation of a demented blue walrus,
